“Why would they believe that? From the outside, it looks like I’m backsliding into illegal shit and taking you with me.”
Just tell them the whole truth, all the way from the beginning, I wanted to shout. Because there was still so much Grayden hadn’t shared with his siblings. There was plenty he hadn’t even shared with me.
But I understood what he was feeling. From Grayden’s perspective, the truth wasn’t always enough to fix everything. And that really sucked.
“Then we’ll just be Bonnie and Clyde,” I said. “Partners in crime.”
He snorted. “I shouldn’t be laughing. This is a mess.”
“But it’sourmess. Let’s get some dinner. Turns out a life of crime makes a girl hungry.”
He side-eyed me. “It might be better if you’re not seen with me.”
“So dramatic. Come on, let’s go to Main Street. I’ll get my car later. I’ve had a completely shitty day, and I want comfort food before it’s time to pick up Ollie. I think you owe me. I risked arrest for you.”
Shaking his head, Grayden put his truck in gear. “Alright, Bonnie. Comfort food, it is.”
As Grayden drove us toward Main Street, I checked my phone, just in case Ollie had texted again. All I’d heard so far was,Getting burgers and shakes!
Didn’t take much to make a nine-year-old happy. I was glad Ollie was having fun with his dad, though I was more on edge than ever.
“Has Ollie written?” Grayden asked.
“Yeah. He’s fine.” After confirming the GPS location of Ollie’s phone—a diner on Main—I tucked my phone away. “I’m meeting Danny at the park for the hand-off at seven.”
“Then we have a couple hours.Where would you like to eat?”
I considered the usual options, but only one place had the high level of comfort I craved right now.
“Let’s go to Silver Linings.”
“Thought it was already closed for the day.”
“Exactly.”
There was plenty of street parking available when we reached my coffee shop. My employees had closed up an hour ago, so I unlocked the back door, switching on more lights as I went inside and made a beeline for the kitchen.
The heat was turned down low, but the chill would be gone in no time once we had the fireplace going. I hung my coat on a wall hook.
Grayden followed more slowly, hesitating on the big winter mat designed to catch the worst of my employees’ muddy snow boots.
“Flip the lock?” I said over my shoulder.
“Got it.”
I was already heading for the fridge. “I don’t think you’ve tried my panini yet. What do you like? Ham? Turkey? Goat cheese?”
When I glanced back, he’d taken off his black canvas jacket. He pushed up his long sleeves, revealing his tattoos.
“I’m not picky. I trust you.”
A brief thrill lit up my chest. I remembered saying the same thing to him weeks ago when he first rented my mom’s house.
But a twinge of guilt followed. Because today, for one split second, Ihadn’ttrusted him. I’d seen that block of white powder wrapped in plastic, and I’d wondered if he could be lying to me.
“I’ll make you my specialty then.” I piled sandwich fixings on the stainless steel work table.
“Can I help?”
